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India on Friday welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments that Washington would rather work with New Delhi than Beijing over the next century, saying it shared his optimism about their burgeoning relationship.
Speaking ahead of a visit to India next week, Tillerson on Wednesday called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia and said Washington wanted to promote a “free and open” region led by prosperous democracies.
President Donald Trump's top diplomat also said Beijing sometimes acted outside international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.
India welcomed the comments, saying they “highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order”, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We appreciate his positive evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future directions.”
Tillerson's remarks came hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the Communist Party Congress signalled that Beijing intended to play a greater role in world affairs.
The unexpectedly sharp comments were seen as a warning to Beijing that Washington would build regional alliances to counter China's ever-growing power while promoting free trade and open sea lanes.
Beijing responded on Thursday by saying that America was biased.
“We hope the US side can look at China's development and role in the international community in an objective way, and abandon its biased views of China,” foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
Experts say stronger US-India ties could act as a counterweight to an increasingly assertive China, which has been building its military and acting increasingly assertively on the world stage.
India has historically avoided alliances, preferring to maintain cautious relations with both Washington and Beijing, but Trump has developed a warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tillerson will visit New Delhi next week for talks but the exact dates have yet to be announced.
Tillerson and US Secretary of Defence General James Mattis are also expected to visit Pakistan later this month.
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Comments (60) Closed
Oct 20, 2017 07:15pm
The USA is a fair weather friend. Good luck India!
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Oct 20, 2017 08:04pm
So looks like the Americans have made it official. No need to hide it anymore. India is now officially on America's payroll to counter China in this region. Good luck India. I hope they treat you better than they did Pakistan.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:08pm
Modi saheb is best thing that could have happened to India
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Oct 20, 2017 11:21pm
@Ijaz "The USA is a fair weather friend. Good luck India!"
Obviously you cannot comprehend how nation states build relationships when you have spent your entire existence as a vassal state - first of the US, now of China. Mature nations deal with each other at a different level.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:25pm
@Ijaz and Imran, did you guys miss the "Rule-based International order" part? If only Pakistan were to follow the rules like everyone else does then countries would trust Pakistan.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:35pm
Modi Cult has a 1000 kg gorilla breathing over its neck. Instead of wooing him in fair understanding , like Nehru Modi has taken confrontation stand aligning with a distant enigmatic President. Nehru died political death when Chinese army descended in to Assam, in 1962. When China was a declared pariha by West. To day China has bigger and more powerful War Machine and War Chest. India has again taken suicidal path.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:40pm
@Ijaz Yes we not it better than u. We know who helped whom in various wars fought between India-Pak . But today's India is different and no sensible country will dare to mess it's relation with it. Well done India. Keep it up.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:43pm
What is required in the south east asia region is a policeman to serve American interests. India is the obvious choice for the post as Americans dislike getting killed in a far off land where there is always the chance of their getting captured by one of the many enemies that it has collected over the years while Indian lives are far cheaper in comparison. So it is a marriage of convenience for both the parties concerned.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:49pm
India ! Welcome to new great game.
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Oct 20, 2017 11:50pm
US will use India against, Pakistan, China & Russia. America is far away and India will be the ultimate loser. #AmericaFirst
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Oct 20, 2017 11:51pm
I can't believe this is 21st century, like why would someone counter a peaceful country like China because it an economic power ?
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Oct 21, 2017 12:18am
@Imran: The relation between India and the USA will be more balanced, as Indian economy is stronger and is not dependent upon the dollars coming as doles.
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Oct 21, 2017 12:38am
India on Friday welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments that Washington would rather work with New Delhi than Beijing over the next century, saying it shared his optimism about their burgeoning relationship. _ I don't believe that. One thing is certain. Tillerson won't be around for the next centrury and South Asia will not solve it's population problem in the next century either.
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Oct 21, 2017 12:38am
Two idiots complimenting each other. Modi has taken India at least 20 years back.
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Oct 21, 2017 01:32am
Indian alliance with America will be bad for India. It will create problems for India. It will aggravate its relationship with Russia, China & Iran.
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Oct 21, 2017 01:47am
Thanks God, US is no more our so called friend. So, another big and blame game is going to play in this economic war where US don't like Chinese influence in world market and Indian extremely upset from the day of beginning from CPEC. Best example for this hypocrisy, they are giving asylum to Afghani Muslims but not Rohingya Muslims.
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Oct 21, 2017 01:49am
India is smart enough to gain from its relations with the US like Japan, South Korea, Germany & Israel have while avoiding the pitfalls. This is clearly evident from India's refusal to put its troops on the ground in Afghanistan despite the US wanting it to do so. Besides thanks to Pakistan, India knows exactly how NOT to deal with the US.
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Oct 21, 2017 02:19am
No power on earth can stop Chinese juggernaut. I am ready to bet with Mr Tillerson and Modi ji.
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Oct 21, 2017 02:51am
Is there anything in the official Indian statements that mentions China?
Indians are not stupid. They will welcome American friendship but, unlike Pakistan, they will never accept American orders on how to run their foreign policy.
Indian diplomats can run circles around Pakistan's inept civilian appointees who are selected for loyalty not ability.
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Oct 21, 2017 03:16am
America never liked any trouble in its own neighbor hood. Poor Modi. America want people like Modi who are willing to create mess in their neighborhood. What a fool.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:00am
@Imran
A well meaning comment Imran.
Thank you for your concern. India is a thriving economy, technologically advance, medical field growing. We are not Pakistan. So no one can treat us like you got treated.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:03am
@Imran, india is no Pakistan my friend, and I m sure you know it well.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:17am
@Imran Yeah, they really like brown India - Only time will tell.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:35am
India shining again
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Oct 21, 2017 05:57am
USA is a kiss of death. It's now Indians' turn to realize this !
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Oct 21, 2017 05:57am
@Imran Thanks for the wishes...But, INDIA know how to play its card. We are good friends with Saudi Arabia at the same time we are a good friend of Iran. We are a good friend of USA at the same time we are a good friend to Russia. If you look at these countries they are sworn enemies. Pakistan doesn't know, how to balance the relationship?, it is like either you guys are with THEM or NO. Unlike, Pakistan..INDIA will be respected country, we are not a small country who can be thrown like "curry leaves" from curry. Sadly, Pakistan will be "insulted" all around because a weak country inside will be insulted outside as well. So, Imran.. compare apples to apples and Oranges to Oranges, to keep it straight don't compare with your country to INDIA because INDIA is in a different league and status in world and it will be insulting to INDIANS.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:07am
@Imran .In 1947 sub- continent was divided under British auspices, believing the two nations will live in peace,harmony,and tranquility, but unfortunately a unresolved Kashmir boundary was left in limbo. Resulting in intermittent fights & tensions between the two. Now both are extremely powerful nations having capability to destroy each other. A natural deterrent exist which is avoiding a major conflict. Pak got all weather friend China, while India still maintains non- align character,we see just recently the Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman point blankly refused to entertain US obsession to bring Indian soldiers on Afghan soil. Both the Pak & India must directly talks and resolve their all outstanding issues one by one, and must understand that the region of South Asia ( Sub- Continent) belongs to both,they must promote friendship & brotherhood, and control hawks ,and let the majority of population on both sides to leave peacefully.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:11am
@Imran India does not seem to align herself with any great power for now or in near future. The US has been trying for some sort of political alignment with India since George Bush (43) years but the progress is not visible. So we will see.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:14am
Deeper ties and deeper lies. Haha goodluck india
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Oct 21, 2017 06:49am
@Imran yes we will be treated better because we are not Pakistan and we have friends not only America but many others like America.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:49am
USA's favour to India would not help in the long run.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:56am
@Imran India is on nobody's payroll. It already has one of the largest economies in the world, the a reasonable change of being the No.1 in future. The mistake Pakistan made while it allied with the US was that it completly ignored its economy and focused on machinations.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:03am
Chinese are opportunists and have problems with all its neighbours - except North Korea and Pakistan. Be careful!
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Oct 21, 2017 07:05am
@Imran Their relationship with Pakistan was always transactional.. without much depth and there was always a trust deficit. Good luck with your only remaining friend, China.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:18am
@Imran, I agree, India should learn from Pakistan's mistakes. It shouldn't rely on US, and make decisions that in its benefits. Just the same way Pakistan shouldn't rely on China and make a decision that to its own benefit.
Taking a step back, it's really sad/foolish for the two blood brothers (India and Pakistan) to keep looking for iron brothers to fight each other! When will we learn?
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Oct 21, 2017 07:20am
This is a mutually beneficial relationship. We need to grow and to sustain that growth we need access to world. America can open those doors so we need them. They need to counter China and so do we. U think if India was not a friend with US, China would leave us alone. See what it has done to other smaller countries. To counter this hungry dragon we need weapons Technology and US again has the best of it. So India needs US equally, if not more. Everyone tries to use the other, that's the world we live in. As long as there is respect it's fine.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:36am
Counter China! Why?China has been working toward economic development of countries in the world. This is a noble cause and countries should extend full cooperation to it.
China, just to save Israel, is not involved in wars being waged in middle eastern countries causing deaths and miseries to thousands of people.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:52am
@Asad ...Brother nice joke ..But at last thanks for your concern
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Oct 21, 2017 07:52am
The bashed pakistan has been Most favored Nation of the USA many times beware India
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Oct 21, 2017 07:53am
@Wasif Your assessment is based on your experience and your contributions to the relationship and you need to reflect on some major blunders that you did, instead of blaming the USA.
USA is a super power and will have certain egos. India is quite aware of that and will navigate the relationship in a healthy manner and will not do anything to jeopardise a friendship, and that goes for whichever country that may be, big or small.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:54am
There are some like @Ijaz, @Imran wishing India good luck. What for ? India has had good relations with America for the last many decades. India has not and will not receive billions of dollars worth military aid and India's democratically elected government has all the power and no backroom deals can be struck like in some other countries.We do have some border disputes with China which are being addressed by both countries in a mature way. Chinese companies are making huge investments with street visibility like vivo and oppo phones which is ecomomically intertwining India and China. Like our PM Modi has said in this century there will be no more blocs (eastern vs western or northern vs southern) but a series of global economic alliances with a security angle to them at times. So as long as India focuses on its economy all countries will work together to ensure there are no wars. Let us not forget Indian and chinese civilizations have been around a while.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:05am
Well said & we welcome sentiments of top US Diplomat, however, one important thing to note here is, India is self dependent and knows how to weigh it's interests and commitments to the world on pragmatic grounds. We cannot be put under pressure to oblige to world's demands or threat. Doklam has proved it. World will again see that India is always for it's principles & interests and not to pacify anyone.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:10am
Trump and Modi bhai bhai.
A man is known by the company he keeps...
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Oct 21, 2017 08:12am
India strategic alliance with US was necessitated due to over-assertive policy adopted by China in the recent past. India showed its resolve not withdrawing its troops from Doklam despite serious warnings issued by China who ultimately withdrew just before the BRICS meet. India, whose economy is fairly robust is not dependent on US for aid but only bridging its defence requirements against the Chinese threat which is not a big deal.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:15am
One should actually be afraid of being USA's friend. Its enemies are safe and friends are dead.
For example Saddam, Osama Bin Laden, Shah of Iran etc
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Oct 21, 2017 08:27am
@Asad Include yourself as third one.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:43am
firstly to all my Pakistani friends,why do you worry with Indo-US relationship India very well knows how to tackle world powers...your turn is over and its India's turn. Indians are well known for handling foreign policy
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Oct 21, 2017 09:01am
@Asad still far better than people of stone age
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Oct 21, 2017 09:59am
It's great. India will officially lose Russian support now. Support of a regional power is more important than a country that's on another continent. India will regret it soon, just like Pakistan did.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:25am
Gone those days when world power use to force india ,now they talking about equal partnership.mera desh badal raha hai
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Oct 21, 2017 10:56am
@Abdullah Yesterday itself all the three wings of army, air force and navy started the biggest joint exercise for 10 days with our old friend Russia in russia, to counter Terrorism.
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Oct 21, 2017 11:19am
Indian statesmen are mature enough to balance US, China, Russia, Japan, EU, Africa and Latin America in order to produce a stabilizing effect on the world economy, ecology and the people.
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Oct 21, 2017 11:29am
Yes, deeper...deeper...more deep. more...more...don't stop...more...
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Oct 21, 2017 11:56am
@Asad
Even then India is 1000 years ahead of barbaric Pakistan
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Oct 21, 2017 12:51pm
Interesting............I wonder who's the player and who is being played.
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Oct 21, 2017 02:32pm
@Imran India is the third largest economy in PPP terms. I think it is a bit of over simplification to call India-US relationship as a strictly slave-master one. India being a democratic country is not ruled by a handful of the same gentlemen (read China and Pakistan) which means less chances of systemic mistakes.
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Oct 22, 2017 04:05am
Good luck India ,if you can be such good friends with Usa
Why not with Pakistan , your next door Neighbour , there is a lot more to gain with friendship with Pakistan .
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Oct 23, 2017 05:15am
Mr Modi don't play with fire.
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Oct 23, 2017 04:57pm
@Observer - Canada Yes you are right. India and US won't even try to stop the Chinese. We will just give it good and healthy competition. Others will be mere spectators in the game.
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Oct 23, 2017 05:06pm
@Khalid iqbal Yes why not... :)
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